Tenryu (Dragon Cycle) Vol. #02

What They SayRyukei and Hiryu are members of the Black Dragon Gang. To their astonishment, this is not just a name: they are actually Dragons, possessed of unique magical powers. Luckily for them, they have met the beautiful Ryurei, who is taking them to her grandfather in hopes of learning more about their powers. Unluckily for them, the vicious Red Wolf Gang leader is determined to snare Ryurei for his bride - whether she wants him or not! It's wolf versus dragon in this shape-shifting sword-and-sorcery shakedown!

The ReviewIn this volume, we are introduced to all four of the dragon kings, and to the quest to which they are committed. The threat of Lord Torao to the dragon clans, especially to the dragon princess miko, Ryurei, is deepening with the destruction of dragon clan villages. Other than Lord Torau's obsession with possessing the beautiful Ryurei, the reason for this destruction is not immediately clear. There is talk of, and great concern about, the appearance of a black dragon with a golden mane among Lord Torao and his minions, especially Koro, whose allegiance to Torao is suspect and whose own motives toward the dragon kings are unknown.

The romantic entanglements of the first volume are no linger hints in the second, but the romance seems forced and unbelievable. The comedy interactions, which now have a lot less of mugging, run the gamut from cheesy to genuinely amusing. This is a josei series in a genre one would not expect, and as such, one does wonder if there are some subtleties that would be missed by the general reader. But this series has such a quick pace that the reader doesn't dwell on the minuses.

Now that the adventure is underway, the fits and starts that marked the first volume are gone. The story is more focused with fewer unnecessary story elements introduced. In addition, the binding problem that plagued many of the CMX first printings is no longer, but we still need to wait for volume 3 to see the cover redesign that will show off Sanami Matoh's wonderful art.